Yuhn Hota Toh Kya Hota- Rikara FF

Chapter 3

"Not so soon Mr. Oberoi. Not today." Omkara's voice rang out in the hall, stunning everyone, especially Tej, into silence. 

"Unless you want to commit bigamy, and I'll be glad to escort you to prison in that case, you can't get engaged today, Mr.Oberoi." Omkara smirked as he said this. 

For a moment, it looked like Tej was at a loss of words. But then he regained his composure, and smiled. 

"Of course, you would be happy to see your father in prison, and that is the greatest tragedy of my life, that my sons don't love or respect their father, at all." Tej replied, still smiling, but there was genuine hurt in his voice, which no one could feel.

"Respect and love have to be earned Mr. Oberoi. And all you've earned is my hatred and disgust." spat Omkara. 

"Be it as it may." sighed Tej. "Since I've earned only your hatred, I don't care for what you think anymore. I'm going to marry Svetlana, and if I remember correctly I served your mother the divorce papers. So where does the question of bigamy arise?" 

"How can I forget about the divorce papers, Mr. Oberoi." said Omkara with a snark. Those divorce papers which almost killed my mother. Omkara was shaking with rage at the audacity of this man who could mention those papers so casually? But he didn't let his rage show. His calm demeanor gave no clue of the storm raging within. 

"But you are forgetting that my mother didn't sign the papers. So you are not free from this 'sham marriage' to have your merry way" Om replied.

"Ah well, yes, the moment Jahnvi regains her consciousness, she can sign those papers. Its a mere formality, a technical delay. Anyways, I'm only getting engaged to Svetlana today, the marriage can happen later when the divorce is finalized." Tej shrugged and waved away Omkara's words. 

Shivaay and Rudra were astounded that Tej could treat Jahnvi's suicide attempt as a 'technical delay', he didn't care for Jahnvi at all, beyond the hurdle she presented to his plans with Svetlana. But Omkara wasn't surprised, he wasn't even angry anymore, because what's the point. 

"Its so surprising that as one of India's best businessmen, you forgot the technicalities of getting a divorce. Rishton ko todna itna bhi aasaan nahi hai, Mr. Oberoi (Its not so easy to break relationships). Divorce needs to be registered. And more importantly, its not a one-way affair Mr.Oberoi. You might want to get rid of my mother, but my mother does not want her marriage to break. And I won't let it break, Mr. Oberoi." said Omkara with conviction. 

"And how are you going to stop me, eh?" chided Tej. 

"This is a decree of Restitution of Conjugal Rights. I filed and obtained it on behalf of my mother. You will have to stay together for the next 6 months. If at the end of 6 months, you can't set aside your differences, only then will the divorce proceedings start. So unless Svetlana's here for the long haul, I don't see any point in this engagement." finished Omkara with some satisfaction. 

As if in a synchronized move, Shivaay and Omkara looked at each other. Both knew they were thinking the same thing: by the time six months were over they would find a way to throw Svetlana out of their lives permanently. 

Tej was astonished. Not because his son had actually come up with a roadblock, but because he was sure that Omkara couldn't have got a decree so soon, without jumping the queue by using a top lawyer. And he couldn't get a top lawyer without using his Oberoi connection, which he abhorred. Was his son ready to accept his reality, accept that he has a businessman's blood running in his veins? Could he use his son's weakness for his mother, to his own advantage? 

Omkara could see the cogs of his father's brains working. He didn't like the calculative look on his father's face. 

"So, the great, self-made artist Omkara, has finally resorted to his surname and the advantages it gives?" goaded Tej.

"For my mother, anything." replied Omkara with a challenge, and resignation in his voice.

Shivaay was on the edge looking at his Bade Papa's  expression. He knew that expression very well; it was the expression of a business shark encircling its victim. 

"Anything?" Tej questioned again.

Shivaay wanted to call out a warning to Omkara, tell him to stop but too late.

"Anything." reaffirmed Omkara. 

"You know it was pretty smart of you to get this decree against me. Very smart. For the first time, you didn't go to pieces and cry, but actually did something. Alas! You are forgetting that I am your father." smirked Tej.

"How can I forget that, Mr. Oberoi. Its my life's greatest tragedy that I am your son." replied Omkara, his voice laden with sorrow. 

This only angered Tej further. "Well, you should know that I'm still a feared businessman. You might have used your Oberoi surname to get this decree quickly. But I'm the one who actually owns the surname, who actually earned it. And on one word from me, a better lawyer than yours, will get this decree cancelled, and my divorce with Jahnvi speeded up." Tej paused for effect. 

Omkara looked at Shivaay with a questioning look, silently asking him whether this is possible, whether Mr. Oberoi actually had that kind of power, or if he was bluffing? 

Shivaay did a mental due diligence of this statement. On the one hand, he, Shivaay also had a lot of influence and if he put his strength behind Omkara, then maybe they could counter Tej's influence, but that was a big 'maybe'. Could they enforce this 6 month decree or can Tej get it nullified? Could they succeed or not? This required some on-ground work, but there was no time for that now. 

Omkara gathered the worst from Shivaay's expression. So did Tej. 

Tej smiled. "I see your earnestness to save your mother. I thought you are weak, just like her. But it seems you still have some of my strength in you" Tej continued before Omkara could interrupt him. "I have a proposition. I'll accept this decree of Restitution of Conjugal Rights, and stay with Jahnvi for 6 months, give our marriage another chance. Without any fight or opposition. In return, you would have to join the family business. If you become a businessman, as is expected of an Oberoi son, within these 6 months, then I'll give up the idea of a divorce, and stick it out with Jahnvi for the rest of my life." 

Before anyone could react, Svetlana burst out in anger. "Tej, how could you do this to me? After all the promises of our marriage, you will give it up for your son, who hates you?" 

"Not now Svetlana, I am dealing with my son right now." Tej waved her off. 

Svetlana actually stamped her foot, and stomped off from there. 

"Aap toh kisi ke bhi nahi ho sake Mr.Oberoi. Naa apni biwi ke, na apne maashooqa ke. Main aap pe kaise bharosa karu?"( you couldn't stay true to anyone, not your wife, nor your lover) asked Omkara with a sarcastic smile. 

"Leave all this. Do we have a deal? This is your best bet, you can have all you want, if you just give me one thing. The alternative is your mother's marriage breaking and endangering her life." egged on Tej, scaring Omkara.

Omkara saw his mother burning before his eyes. If the only way of saving his mother, was to kill the artist in him, so be it. 

"Fine, Mr. Oberoi. But I don't trust you, so we better have a contract drawn up to this effect." replied Omkara.

"Sure. Its a deal" smiled Tej. 

And just like that Omkara signed away his life, because it was his art which kept him alive all these years. Omkara had read of the expression 'heart falling to the pit of the stomach'. He felt like a heavy stone dropped down to the pit of the stomach, because his heart had already turned to stone the moment he vowed to be like Shivaay and do anything to save his mother. His soul left his body, and the only thing that was left within, was hatred. Boiling, hot hatred. 

"Oh my mata! Yeh sab kya ho raha hai yahaan pe?" (OMM, Whats going on here?) Pinky's agitated voice joined the group in the hall.